Enerhodar Territorial Community

History

In ancient times, the site where Enerhodar is located today was a suburb of the Scythian capital. Near the territory of the village of Znamianka, there was a settlement, and beyond it, the Scythian field (present-day city territory). Later, during the Cossack era, the Mykytynska Sich stood nearby, and Bohdan Khmelnytsky was elected as hetman there.

In 1969, a decision was made to build the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant and a new satellite city named Enerhodar.

In 1981, the construction of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant began, which would have 6 blocks and become the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine and Europe.

Modern Enerhodar is known not only for its industry but also as a city comfortable for work and life. Residents of Enerhodar enjoy quality leisure, engage in sports, and attend cultural events. All necessary conditions have been created for this. The city has 2 parks, picturesque squares, and a stadium. Thanks to the Kakhovka Reservoir, there is a scenic embankment and beach, and a yacht club operates. The “Suchasnyk” (Contemporary) Palace of Culture hosts cultural events such as plays with prominent actors, concerts, competitions, festivals, and more. Since 1992, the city hosted the international theater festival “Dobryi Teatr” (Good Theater) attracting groups from Germany, France, Switzerland, Romania, and Latvia. In 2014, the festival was supposed to take place for the twelfth time, but the war interrupted this tradition.

Traditionally, the city hosted solemn mass events for New Year, Christmas and City Day celebrations. An annual parade of embroidered shirts “Vyshyvanka’s” and a regional nativity scene festival called “Vesela Koliada” took place.

Two cultural heritage objects within the city were listed on the state register: the Fraternal Burial of Soviet soldiers and a memorial sign in honor of Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant.

Before the full-scale russian invasion of the Ukraine, the strategic economic sector of Enerhodar was its industry. The industrial complex of the city includes:

• Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (electricity and heat production).
• Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant (electricity and heat production).
• “Atomenergomash” (manufacturing of pipeline elements and non-standard equipment), is one of the few companies in Ukraine providing unique specialized equipment for nuclear and thermal power plants.
• Private enterprise “Enkhol” (design of systems and equipment, development of design documentation for nuclear power plants, installation, adjustment, repair, technical and operational maintenance, refrigeration equipment servicing).
• LLC “Velych” (production of bakery and confectionery products).
• Municipal Enterprise “Teplovodokanal” (providing centralized heat, water supply, and wastewater services).

In 2020, the city had 165 small and 13 medium-sized enterprises.

Before the full-scale invasion, the city had a fully developed infrastructure necessary for a dignified life, development, and meaningful recreation.

The healthcare sector in the city was represented by two municipal medical institutions – the Center for Primary Medical and Sanitary Care and the Specialized Medical and Sanitary Unit. In 2018, a modern dialysis department was opened based on a municipal medical institution. In 2021, work on the computerization of institutions was completed, successfully transitioning to electronic medical referrals.

Conditions for receiving quality education, both school and extracurricular, were created for children. The education system includes 11 preschool institutions, 4 extracurricular institutions, and 10 general secondary education institutions, as well as the Inclusive Resource Center. Higher education could also be obtained at the Enerhodar Institute of State and Municipal Management named after R.G. Kheno “Classical Private University.”

Enerhodar had a developed network of cultural institutions: City Palace of Culture “Suchasnyk,” Cultural and Business Center of Zaporizhzhia NPP, a cinema, an art exhibition hall, the “ART BLOCK” gallery, and museums of Zaporizhzhia TPP and Zaporizhzhia NPP, as well as the Centralized Library System (5 libraries, including 1 children’s).

In Enerhodar, conditions were created for engaging in various sports. The city has the Sports and Recreation Complex of Zaporizhzhia NPP, a swimming pool and water sports base, the municipal stadium “Start,” the Center for Tourism, Local History, and Sports, and the Enerhodar Boxing School named after V.R. Manzuli. Various sports competitions, tournaments, and championships at the city, regional, and national levels were regularly held in the city (football, swimming, boxing, rowing, etc.).

Community and War

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the residents of the city were confident that their city was in a relatively safe position. After all, facilities like nuclear power plants are not designed for military operations and should not be attacked according to international law. Therefore, in the first days of the war, no one in the city evacuated, believing that the city would remain under the Ukrainian flag, and no one would shoot near a nuclear facility. However, starting from February 27, the Russians began deploying troops to the city and suggesting surrender.

On March 1 and 2, a column of military vehicles approached the city entrance. Thousands of people, including men, women, and even children, gathered at the checkpoint with Ukrainian flags to resist the occupiers. The unexpected and active resistance forced the enemy to temporarily retreat. However, everything changed on the evening of March 3. When Russian forces once again approached the checkpoint and opened fire on the civilian population, the city residents were forced to withdraw. Approaching the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), they began shelling the station with tanks, hitting one of the blocks and the training center, starting a fire. Throughout this time, online cameras on the station’s premises allowed the world to witness live the military capture of the nuclear plant, violating all international norms. 

On March 4, Russian forces captured Zaporizhzhia NPP and occupied the city of Enerhodar. Unfortunately, there were casualties and injuries among the defenders of the station.

This night became the most terrifying for all city residents. Could anyone have imagined that in the 21st century, a nuclear facility could be captured by military means? That there would be gunfire at Zaporizhzhia NPP? Before this night, it was unimaginable. But the world was mistaken.

The city authorities tried to stabilize the situation and ensure the city’s food supply. City residents also united their efforts, helping the more vulnerable segments of the population. Humanitarian corridors were available for some time, and residents began leaving the occupied city.

Enerhodar residents were not willing to accept the occupation and the new order. They continued to participate in peaceful, large-scale rallies, demonstrating that Enerhodar is a Ukrainian city. Participants in such rallies were dispersed by throwing sound and light grenades, and unarmed people were fired upon.

After the establishment of the occupation regime, Russian special services searched and abducted participants of demonstrations and “pro-Ukrainian-minded” residents, with the help of local collaborators. Torture chambers and basements began to appear in the city.

On the night of June 6, 2023, Russian occupiers blew up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, intensifying the threat of a nuclear catastrophe. This is because the water level in the Dnipro River determines the filling of the cooling ponds for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The water from the Kakhovka Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive nourishment for turbine capacitors and ZNPP safety systems.

More and more people started leaving the city, refusing to cooperate with the occupiers and fearing torture. At present, according to unofficial data, around 10,000 residents remain in the city. Among them are those who support the actions of the Russian Federation, but many are waiting for the return of Ukraine and are ready to welcome the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the Ukrainian flag.

People of the Community

Born on May 27, 1985, in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, he graduated from Sevastopol National University of Nuclear Energy and Industry with a degree in Atomic Energy and Energy Management. From 2007, he worked at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, progressing from a pump unit operator in the operational unit to the lead engineer for equipment provisioning of the general-purpose personnel of the operational unit of ZNPP. From February to November 2020, he served as the deputy head of the primary trade union organization of Zaporizhzhia NPP. Engaged in active civic activities, he led the Youth Organization of ZNPP and was the head of the first Housing Cooperative in Enerhodar from 2008 to 2020.

During his tenure as the mayor of Enerhodar, several important initiatives were implemented aimed at improving the living conditions of citizens, developing infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of services provided to the population.

He and his team in collaboration with international partners established an effective system for providing administrative services to the population. In 2021, the renovation of the Administrative Services Center “Unified Office” was completed, and new equipment was acquired.

Reorganization of the communal sector was carried out, the vehicle fleet was updated, and the reconstruction of power grids was initiated. Several municipal programs to support and develop housing cooperatives were introduced.

Significant work was done in the field of healthcare, including cooperation with the National Health Service, the completion of repairs in Specialized healthcare unit departments, computerization of the medical-sanitary unit, and the acquisition of modern diagnostic equipment. 

Thanks to high socio-economic indicators, Enerhodar actively developed in various directions, participating in numerous international projects and grants.

During the full-scale invasion, Dmytro Orlov refused to collaborate with the occupiers. Under pressure and threats in the spring, he had to leave Enerhodar and organize work in the city of Zaporizhzhia. The entire acting administration also left the city but continued to support its residents and stay in touch. In September 2022, the Center for Assistance to Evacuated Residents of Enerhodar was opened in Zaporizhzhia. Thousands of people forced to leave Enerhodar started coming to the Center. Currently, humanitarian, legal, psychological, medical, and other types of assistance are provided here. The acting administration is actively preparing for the de-occupation of the city, and as soon as the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberate Enerhodar, they are ready to return home and rebuild the city.

Enerhodar is renowned in Ukraine and around the world not only for its powerful energy potential but also for its talented residents who have brought fame to the city in various fields of activity. Additionally, it takes pride in its courageous defenders who, within the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, strive for the freedom and independence of Ukraine.

Sergiy Snezhko is an Honored Coach of Ukraine and a coach-instructor in kayaking and canoeing of the highest category at the Youth Sports School of the Sports and Recreation Complex of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. He holds the title of “Honorary Citizen of Enerhodar.” Throughout his coaching career, Snezhko has trained numerous distinguished athletes, including an Honored Master of Sports of Ukraine, a Master of Sports of Ukraine of international class, seventeen Masters of Sports of Ukraine, and many candidates for the title of Master of Sports of Ukraine, along with numerous athletes holding various sports titles.

Snezhko’s pupils have consistently achieved victories and podium placements in World and European Championships, international tournaments, as well as Ukrainian Championships and Cups. Notable among his protégés are the multiple World and European champions in kayaking and canoeing, Lyudmyla Babak, and the World and European champion, Denis Davidov.

Lyudmyla Babak, born in 1998 in Enerhodar, is a sports personality and a World Champion in kayaking and canoeing. She is a pupil of the Sports and Recreation Complex of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, specifically in the “kayaking and canoeing” department. Babak has a remarkable record as a nine-time World Champion in kayaking and canoeing, a multi-time champion and medalist in European and Ukrainian marathons, maintaining an undefeated streak on the sports stage since 2017, regularly claiming victories in European and global tournaments. She served as a deputy of the Enerhodar City Council from 2020 to 2022.

Saveliy Fedan (2002-2023) – Defender of Ukraine.

Born in Enerhodar on May 10, 2002, Saveliy actively participated in patriotic activities from a young age amid the Russian aggression in 2014. He engaged in volunteering, visited military hospitals, organized concerts, and raised funds for Ukrainian defenders. Joining a volunteer team at the age of 13, he ventured to the front lines and the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone, demonstrating a commitment to the defense of Ukraine.

On August 27, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Robotine in the Zaporizhzhia region, Lieutenant Saveliy Fedan lost his life due to enemy mortar shelling. In September 2023, the Enerhodar City Military Administration initiated an electronic petition to the President of Ukraine to award the honorary title of “Hero of Ukraine” (posthumously) to Saveliy Fedan.

For his bravery displayed in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and his dedicated fulfillment of military duty, Lieutenant Saveliy Fedan, our fellow countryman, was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky of III degree by the Decree of the President of Ukraine 731/2023.

Public organization “Peredova”(“Frontline”)

The public organization “Peredova” was founded in 2015 as an association of ATO participants and volunteers. Over the past almost 10 years, civic activists, volunteers, and all caring residents of Enerhodar, together with “Peredova,” have been actively assisting our Defenders. They collect humanitarian aid and funds to support our soldiers on the front lines, purchase protective equipment, military first aid kits, turnstiles, radios, fuel for vehicles, repair equipment and machinery, and independently deliver goods to the front lines, among other activities.

During the full-scale war, most members of the “Peredova” organization joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense. However, the organization’s activities continue, as hundreds of concerned residents of Enerhodar who left the temporarily occupied city have joined the effort. They continue to support volunteers, collect aid, weave camouflage nets, and do everything possible, collectively bringing Ukraine closer to its victory in this war.

Development Strategy

By the decision of the Enerhodar City Council dated January 27, 2017, No. 4, the Strategic Development Plan of the city of Enerhodar until 2027 (hereinafter – Strategy) was approved. This plan serves as the primary planning document, considering the economic, ecological, and social aspects of the city’s development. It outlines the financing of projects from various levels of budgets, state, and international funds, and other sources not prohibited by current legislation.

The Strategy identifies three main priority development directions for the city:

1. A city friendly to the environment.
2. A city open to investment and business development.
3. A city comfortable and convenient for living.

Projects planned for the post-de-occupation period include:

1. Establishing an industrial park in the territory of Enerhodar. The city’s master plan provides a land plot of 100 hectares for this purpose. The successful implementation of this project over several years will contribute to the economic development of the city and the region, create new jobs, and develop modern scientific, production, and market infrastructures.
2. Construction of a complex for sorting and processing solid household waste, construction debris, wood, and worn-out tires. Enerhodar has excellent economic, communication, and logistical potential for the construction of a waste processing complex to address regional issues.
3. Building a road-rail bridge across the Kakhovka Reservoir in the area of Enerhodar and Manganese cities. The project proposes the construction of a bridge in a narrow part of the Kakhovka Reservoir, reducing the connection between the western part of Zaporizhzhia region and Dnipropetrovsk by approximately 250 km. The bridge’s construction will significantly boost the economic development of territories, and improve interregional connections, and transport links with major industrial centers.
4. Infrastructure and communication restoration to provide quality municipal services (electricity supply, heating, water supply, and sewage).
5. Restoration of the State Service Centers (SSCs). Development of a project for the reconstruction of the Administrative Services Center “Unified Office.”
6. Ensuring quality and affordable preschool education, including capital and current repairs, procurement of sports equipment, shelter arrangement, fire and technological safety provision.
7. Establishing an academic lyceum based on the Enerhodar Multidisciplinary Lyceum. The project includes building surroundings, creating a coworking center, implementing the “Robotics School” model, furnishing rooms with new furniture, multimedia technical means, and shelter arrangements.
8. Creating a municipal Center for Extracurricular Education. Besides implementing existing extracurricular education activities, this center will coordinate military-patriotic education and Youth Hub activities.
9. Establishing a Center for Psychological Support and Mental Health “Happy Nation”. The center plans to organize a sensory corner, arrange a psychologist’s office, conduct art therapy, and more.
10. Creating a multifunctional municipal institution “Center for Social Services Provision.” The center is planned to offer services such as care for the elderly with accommodation for the elderly and disabled, social assistance without accommodation for the elderly and disabled, daily care for children, social taxi services, and more.
11. Creating a Unified Data Processing Center – a municipal database for storing and processing all urban planning, technical, and financial documentation owned by the city.

For more detailed information about the above-mentioned projects, you can contact the Department of Economy of the Enerhodar City Council. Contact details of the Director: Olena Ovchatova, email: [email protected].

List of Sources

• Official website of the city of Enerhodar
• Wikipedia article of Enerhodar
• Facebook page of the Enerhodar City Council
• The official Facebook page of the Enerhodar city mayor
• The official Telegram channel of the Enerhodar mayor
• Links to interviews/articles with the mayor of Enerhodar, and prominent citizens:
• suspilne.media/530353-sportsmenka-z-energodara-stala-vosmirazovou-cempionkou-evropi-z-marafonu
• suspilne.media/577939-21-ricnomu-vijskovomu-z-energodara-saveliu-fedanu-prosat-posmertno-prisvoiti-zvanna-geroa-ukraini
• suspilne.media/culture/513279-misto-suputnik-zaporizkoi-aes-ak-zive-energodar